The need for original documents, N-reg aircraft?

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 23:20:45 +0000, Peter
wrote:


I disagree, but anyway that is not the question I was asking. I was
looking for a reference for a requirement to carry *originals* in an
N-reg.

I don't believe there is such a requirement, despite frequent
"information" posted in the usual places. But there is no harm in
asking.

I'd posit that there's reasonable evidence to infer the original must
be carried, absent the specific wording you are looking for saying
that you have to use the original.

The certificate itself has "This certificate must be carried when the
aircraft is operated" (or something very close, I don't have mine in
front of me right now) printed on it in the upper-right hand corner.

The FAA makes a large deal about the application for registration
having to be done in original and signed in ink, no copies or
electronic versions allowed. They also state that the pink copy of
the application must be carried in the aircraft until the permanent
certificate is received. In the documentation for 8050-1 they don't
indicate that a photocopy of the pink temporary slip would be
acceptable, but specifically enumerating that the *pink* copy must be
carried (and reinforcing it in 47.31(b)) indicates that they intend on
the original pink copy being used, not a photocopy. It would be
reasonable to ask why would that requirement change once you get the
real card?

91.203(a)(2) also states specifically the pink copy, implying that an
original of the other two acceptable forms (effective U.S.
registration certificate, or a registration certificate issued under
the laws of a foreign country) would need to be an original as well.

47.49 deals with replacing a lost, stolen, or mutilated registration.
Paragraph B states that if you need to operate your aircraft before a
duplicate is received, you can get a collect telegram which must be
carried in the aircraft. Why would they require an original of the
collect telegraph, or an official FAA fax, if you could just photocopy
the original certificate for the aircraft, then lock it away, and
subsequently make additional copies to carry any time the photocopy
carried in the aircraft is misplaced, lost, whatever?

Although appearing to address operations outside the US,
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/e...a/2_044_01.pdf
para 2(a)(2)(b) states "The regulations do not authorize operation
outside the United States unless an actual registration certificate is
in the aircraft. However, the Aircraft Registration Branch, AFS-750,
will, upon request from the owner, fax a copy of the registration to
the individual whose name appears on the application as the registered
owner. The faxed copy may be used as a temporary registration until
the owner receives original registration. As with the original
registration certificate, the copy must be carried in the aircraft." I
would postulate that if they really wanted to violate someone under
91.203 for carrying a photocopy, they'd pull that last sentence out as
additional evidence of their intent that an original be carried.

I believe they'd also go as far as to point out that there are other
certificates (a-la pilots, medical) which must also be carried per
61.3. 61.3(a)(1) deals with the pilot certificate, and nowhere there
does it say it must be original, but it is implied by coupling it in
paragraph (2) with a Government-issued photo ID. A photocopy of your
drivers license isn't Government issued. 61.3(c)(1) deals with the
medical, and a case can be made that a photocopy of your medical isn't
issued under part 67, so it has to be original too. Why would the
registration be special if all the other documents have to be
original?

Just my 0x02c.
P

Peter Clark wrote:

I believe they'd also go as far as to point out that there are other
certificates (a-la pilots, medical) which must also be carried per
61.3. 61.3(a)(1) deals with the pilot certificate, and nowhere there
does it say it must be original, but it is implied by coupling it in
paragraph (2) with a Government-issued photo ID.

This matter came under discussion at a Wings meeting. The inspector giving the
lecture said that the FARs require that "this certificate" be carried, and that
means what it says. Only the original is legal. The topic under discussion was
pilots' certificates, not airworthiness certificates, but if the wording is the
same in the FARs, then I'd bet the FAA has the same interpretation.

George Patterson
We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop
playing.